Microsoft developing paid TV service?

Microsoft has reportedly entered into talks with media companies like Disney and HBO to offer a pay television service through its device platform, including the XBox 360, but possibly extending to other devices like Windows 7 PCs and even Windows Phone 7 devices. Although no official comments or announcements have been made, Reuters reports that Microsoft has put several options on the table, including enabling customers to pick what premium television channels they want in an a la carte manner—something cable customers have been demanding for years, but have never received. But TV fans shouldn’t hold their breath: the service, if it materializes, could be as much a a year away.

Microsoft has previously edged into the television business: years ago, it stepped into the Internet-enabled TV marketplace when it acquired WebTV, and it has also developed MSN TV set-top box systems. Although efforts like Google TV have so far met with a cold shoulder from traditional broadcasters—which are largely denying access to the devices—cable operators might see paid subscriptions through something like Xbox Live as a way to defray losses from subscribers dropping their cable packages in favor of online streaming services from the likes of Netflix, Apple, and Hulu.

According to Reuters, two sources have indicated Microsoft has put three basic options on the table. In one, Microsoft would act as a “virtual cable operator,” offering premium cable channel programming over the Internet for a monthly fee. In another, Microsoft would offer premium content (like HBO, Showtime, and ESPN) on an a la carte basis for a monthly fee, enabling subscribers to select just the premium channels they want, without being forced to subscribe to content they don’t want to receive. In a third scenario, Microsoft would authenticate users as valid cable television subscribers, and make the subscribers’ cable offering available to them via the Internet.

Other reports have Microsoft working on new interfaces to search, manage, and navigate television content, making it easier for users to find the content they want without having to worry about which source is providing it. Microsoft, of course, is also keen to integrated social media and interactive content with television.

Microsoft says it does not comment on speculation, and had no comment about a possible television service.

HP is currently dropping prices on Spectre x360, Envy, Pavilion, and Omen laptops during its Memorial Day event. So if you're in dire need of a new laptop, the latest holiday savings may be exactly what you're looking for.

Whether you need a new laptop for school or work or you're just doing some post-holiday shopping, we have you covered: These are the best laptop deals going right now, from discounted MacBooks to on-the-go gaming PCs.

The internet can be a dangerous place, especially for your loved ones. Check out our selection of the best free parental control software for Windows and MacOS, so you can monitor your child and block unsavory sites.

Whether you want an external storage drive that is fast, portable, or comes with a ton of storage, these are the best external hard drives available today. They all come with great features and competitive pricing.

Be it the X series, the T series, E series, it can be tough to find the best Lenovo laptop that is right for you. To help, we'll break down all the options available to make your choice a more informed one.

AMD will be holding a pre-Computex keynote on May 27 to announce its new line of 3rd-generation Ryzen processors and accompanying Radeon Navi graphics cards. Here's how to watch the keynote live wherever you are in the world.

USB-C could finally come to Microsoft's Surface Pro tablet. According to a Microsoft patent filing, the port was shown in an illustration, suggesting that the company is working to support this feature in the future.

Laptop head to heads are a great way to see which one might be the right one for you. Our latest sees the Razer Blade Stealth (2019) vs. MacBook Pro in a fight to see which one deserves to be your next laptop.

AMD's Navi graphics cards could be available as soon as July 2019 — as long as it's not delayed by stock problems. Billed as a successor to Polaris, Navi promises to deliver better performance to consoles like Sony's PlayStation 5.

There’s so much choice when shopping for a new tablet that it can be hard to pick the right one. From iPads to Android, these are our picks for the best tablets you can buy right now whatever your budget.

Amazon Prime Day 2019 is still a few months off, but it's never too early to start preparing. We've been taking a look at the best discounts from previous Prime Days to give you our predictions of what to expect this year.

The Walmart Memorial Day sale has begun. With some pretty nice savings on Apple iPads, Samsung and Vizio 4K TVs, laptops, and Google Home devices, now is a great time to snag some electronics for cheap.

If you're looking to save big on some shiny new stuff for Memorial Day 2019, we've gathered everything you need to know into one place. Find out where to save the most money before the summer hits its stride.